Ice mold



Nov. 18, 1952 E. S. LEICHTMAN ET AL ICE MOLD Filed Nov. 28, 1950 INVENTORS. SAUL D. LEICHTMAM EDWIN LE/C'HTMHN.

BY a Z ATTORNEY Patented Nov. 18, 1952 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE Edwin S. Leichtman, Arlington, Va., and Saul D. Leichtman, New York, N. Y.

Application November 28, 1950, Serial No. 197,938

7 Claims. 1

This invention relates to a mold for ice figures.

Ice figures are commonly used at social functions suchas banquets, weddings and the like for decorative purposes, as well as for the purpose of cooling various foods and beverages, such as fruits and salads and punch. These ice figures are hand-sculptured out of large blocks of ice and the process is obviously slow and costly. Skilled sculptors are required to do this work and the material which they use tends to melt even as the Work of sculpturing takes place. Besides, these ice figures are colorless unless colored water is used, in which case, the ice figure will be of a single color.

An ideal method of producing ice figures of this general character would be to mold them in molds of desired configuration. It so happens, however, that water expands as it freezes and the ice produced from a given volume of water has a greater volume than the water. Hence, conventional molds would be entirely inappropriate for I this kind of work, since they would crack or burst under the pressure of the expanding water.

It is the principal object of this invention to provide an expansible and contracti-ble mold for ice figures, capable of contracting to receive the water and capable of expanding to compensate for the expansion of the water during the freezing operation. The mold herein described and claimed comprises a pair of complementary mold shells which are held together by yieldable, resilient means. The adjoining edges of the respective mold shells are slidably or telescopically connected to each other so that the mold remains whole and closedeven as its two component shells move outwardly from each other under the expansive forces of the freezing water. A suitable seal is provided between the slidably or telescopically connected edges of the two mold shells to prevent leakage as long as the water is in a fluid state. The problem of leakage decreases in importance with the freezing of the water and since the water in contact with the metal mold surfaces freezes first, there is soon produced a complete ice shell which contains the still un-'- frozen water, it will be obvious that the problem of leakage soon completely disappears.

Another problem which has heretofore militated against the use of molds for ice figures has been the problem of removing the ice figures from the molds. When water freezes, it tends to adhere to the surface against which it freezes and that is precisely what happens in the mold. It is, therefore, another important object of invention to provide a mold 01 the character described from which the molded ice may be removed quickly and easily and without damage either to the ice or to the mold. The mold constituting the present invention is provided with electric heating elements which runthrough its walls and which are adapted quickly to heat the mold to free the ice therefrom without melting away any substantial part of the molded ice.

Another object of the present invention is the provision of a mold of the character described wherein an ice figure may be molded in one or more colors. An example would be an ice duck wherein the head and neck are made of ice *of one color and the body is made of ice of a different color.

This object is accomplished by providing removable partitions in the mold, or at least one such partition. The mold is filled with water of one color on one side of the partition and with water of another color on the opposite side of the partition. When the surface of the water freezes in both parts of the mold, that is on opposite sides of the partition, the partition is withdrawn and as the Water continues to freeze in both parts of the mold, it expands and comes together in the space which the partition previ ously occupied. Adhesion under pressure takes place and a unitary molded ice figure results. Here, too, the problem of removing the partition from the ice which adheres to it is solved by incorporating an electric heating element into the partition. This has the effect of melting. that portion of the ice on both sides thereof which adheres to it and it is, therefore, freed for purposes of removal.

A further object of this invention is the provision of a mold of the character described wherein removable .cores are provided for the formation of recesses or wells in "the ice figures so :as to enablethe ice figure to accommodate electric light bulbs which would enhance its appearance and cause it to glow.

A preferred form of this invention is shown in the accompanying drawing, in which:

Fig. 1 is a sideview of a mold made in the form of a duck.

Fig. 2 is a top view thereof.

Fig. 3 is an inside View of one of the mold shells.

Fig. 4.- is an enlarged section on the line 44 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 5 is an enlarged section on the line 5-5 of Fig. 1.

The mold ll! shown in the drawing comprises two 'moldshells i2 and M, respectively, which complement each other to form the mold. Each shell constitutes half of the mold, although this should be understood as being merely illustrative of the invention. The two mold shells illustrated in the drawing are similar to each other except that one constitutes the right side of the mold and the other constitutes the left side. In some molds made in accordance with the present invention, unlike mold shells may be found to be desirable and they may be unlike both in appearance and in dimensions, depending upon the configuration of the ice figure sought to be molded. Another possible variation in some more complicated shapes is the provision of a mold having more than two shell components.

In all cases, however, the edges of the mold shells must be joined in such manner that a leak-proof seal is provided and in such manner that the mold shells may be moved outwardly relative to each other without opening the mold but merely enlarging its capacity to compensate for the difference in volume between the water and the ice into which the water is frozen. In the preferred form of this invention, one of the mold shells, to wit shell I4, is provided with a grooved edge l6 which extends along its entire edge or periphery. (See Fig. 3). The corresponding edge of mold shell I2 constitutes a continuous tongue l8 which fits into groove 16. A tongue-and-groove relationship is thereby provided between the two mold shells which enables said shells to move toward and away from each other without disengaging each other and without opening the mold. Graphite 29 is provided in groove I6 so as to serve as a water-tight seal between the two shells when they are brought together as closely as their construction and the graphite will permit. Other material may, of course, be used for sealing purposes. The seal is most important when the water is in liquid form, which is when the two mold shells abut each other tightly to provide a leak-proof seal. The seal is less important when the water begins to freeze on the inner surface of the mold and to expand and thereby to push the two mold shells apart.

Lugs 22 are formed on shell [2, adjacent its tongue-shaped edge l8, and at predetermined intervals. In the mold shown in the drawing there are five such lugs. Other lugs 2d are formed in corresponding locations on mold shell Hi. When the two mold shells are joined to each other as shown in Figs. 2 and 5, the lugs on the one shell register with the lugs on the other shell. Holes are formed in lugs 22 to accommodate pintle 26 which extends through bolt head. 28 on bolt 25. The head 28 of the bolt is pivoted in lug 22 and a compression spring 30 on the opposite end of the bolt abuts lug 24 which is bifurcated, as shown. A nut 32 is provided at the end of the bolt to retain the spring, and a pin 21 extending through the bolt limits movement of the spring 30 when the bolt is removed from bifurcated lug 24. It will be understood from this construction that the two mold shells are urged together by means of compresof these springs which holds the twomold shells in water-tight engagement with each other.

Filler neck 84 is provided in the mold, and there may be as many filler necks or openings as are deemed necessary. Each filler neck should have a screw plug or the like so that it may be closed when the filling operation is complete. In the illustration of this invention shown in the drawing, there is one filler neck 34 at the top of the mold and thereare two corresponding filler openings 36 at thebottom of the mold. A

plug 38 which is in screw-threaded engagement with each filler opening 36 is provided to close said openings. It may be found necessary to provide a vent opening or bleed hole 40 adjacent filler neck 34 so as to allow the air to escape from the mold while the water is poured therein through the filler neck.

Another opening 42 may be provided at some selected location in the mold. The mold shown in the drawing is shaped like a duck and opening 42 is provided in the neck of the duck. This opening is-adapted to receive a-pa-rtition plate 44 which serves to divide the mold into'two separate compartments, one above the ;parti-tion plate and the other below it. The mold may be filled with water of one color above the partition plate by introducing said colored water therein through filler neck 34, after which a stopper or a screw plug may be inserted in the opening. Water of a difierent color may be introduced into the mold below said partition plate through filler opening 36, this latter operation taking place when the mold is inverted in position. When the water in both compartments of the mold begins to freeze, the partition plate may be withdrawn and the pressure of the freezing water in both compartments and the expansion will bring them together to form a single frozen unit. To facilitate removal of the partition plate, it is provided with an electric heating element 46 having terminal prongs 41. When this partition plate is heated sufficiently to melt the ice which adheres to it on both sides thereof, it may be slipped out of the mold without dif ficulty.

The problem of quickly removing the ice figure from the mold is solved by incorporating electric heating elements 48 in the walls of the mold shells. All that need be done to remove the ice figures from the mold shells is to heat said shells sumciently to melt the ice which adheres to them. So little of the ice is thereby melted that the icetfigure remains for all practical purposes in ac Molding cores 56 are provided in the mold to form wells or recesses in the ice figure. These wells or recesses are adapted to accommodate electric light bulbs so as to enhance the appearance of the ice figure by lighting it up when it is in use. These cores may be formed as extensions of the screw plugs 38 so they may be removed before removing the frozen figure from-the mold.

It will be understood that the foregoing is'illustrative of the broad principles of the invention, and that many modifications and variations may be provided within the broad scope and spirit of the invention and of the claims. 1

Having thus described our invention, what we claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is: L

l. A mold of the character described, compris ing at least two complementary mold. shells which are held in tensioned, slidable engagement with each other, and electric heating elementsgin the walls of said mold shells, a water tight seal being p v ded e n the wo moldsheils sagas to enable the mold to receive a charge of water for freezing purposes, said mold shells being movable away from each other under the pressure of the freezing water Without actually disengaging each other, the edges of the two mold shells being in tongue-and-groove relationship with each other, a, water-tight seal being provided in the groove for engagement with the tongue, said mold shells having openings through which water may be introduced into the mold when closed and plugs being provided to close said openings.

2. A mold in accordance with claim 1, wherein removable bosses are formed within the mold to provide recesses in the molded material for the reception of electric light bulbs.

3. A mold of the character described, comprising at least two complementary mold shells which are held in tensioned, slidable engagement with each other, and electric heating elements in the walls of said mold shells, a water-tight seal being provided between the two mold shells so as to enable the mold to receive a charge of water for freezing purposes, said mold shells being movable away from each other under the pressure of the freezing water without actually disengaging each other, said mold shells having an opening, a partition plate removably slidably mounted in said opening, said partition plate extending across said mold shells and separating them into a compartment on one side of said partition plate and another compartment on the opposite side of said partition plate, said partition plate being provided with an electric heating element so as to facilitate removal thereof from the mold when the water in said mold freezes against the sides of said partition plate.

4. A mold in accordance with claim 1 wherein an opening is provided in said mold shells and a partition plate is removably slidably mounted in said opening, said partition plate extending across said mold shells and separating them into a compartment on one side of said partition plate and another compartment on the opposite side of said partition plate, said partition plate being provided with an electric heating element so as to facilitate removal thereof from the mold when the water in said mold freezes against the sides of said partition plate.

5. A mold in accordance with claim 3, wherein removable bosses are formed within the mold to provide recesses in the molded material for the reception of electric light bulbs.

63. A mold of the character described, comprising at least two complementary mold shells which are held in tensioned, slidable engagement with each other, and electric heating elements in the walls of said mold shells, a water-tight seal being provided between the two mold shells so as to enable the mold to receive a charge of water for freezing purposes, said mold shells being movable away from each other under the pressure of the freezing water without actually disengaging each other, said mold shells having an opening, a partition plate removabl slidably mounted in said opening, said partition plate extending across said mold shells and separating them into a compartment on one side of said partition plate and another compartment on the opposite side of said partition plate.

7. A mold in accordance with claim 1 wherein an opening is provided in said mold shells and a partition plate is removably slidably mounted in said opening, said partition plate extending across said mold shells and separating them into a compartment on one side of said partition plate and another compartment on the opposite side of said partition plate.

EDWIN S. LEICHTMAN. SAUL D. LEICHTMAN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 945,537 Hoffman Jan, 4, 1910 1,004,820 Remy Oct. 3, 1911 1,162,397 Price Nov. 30, 1915 1,989,364 Iverson Jan. 29, 1935 1,996,741 Benge Apr. 9, 1935 ,098,688 Lanyon Nov. 9, 1937 2,407,806 Arnold Sept. 1'7, 1946 2,545,592 Sherbloom Mar. 20, 1951 

